Sauve Scholars hosted LOVE youth for a story sharing session at the Sauve House. It was an amazing honor to hear from such inspiring and resilient youth who have undergone so much struggle but have overcome and are still healing from their experiences. LOVE (Leave Out Violence) is an award-winning youth violence prevention organization. LOVE was founded on the belief that youth challenged by violence can
be agents of change, capable of transforming their own lives, investing
themselves in their communities, and making the world a safer place. We had a privilege of having with us the Founder of Love, Twinkle and Satoko Ingram who is a fundraiser for LOVE. One of the Staff also joined the youth.
LOVE programs benefit both the individual and the community. LOVE youth have experienced many forms of violence including: gangs,
domestic violence, racism, bullying, drugs, physical, verbal and sexual
abuse, weapons and self-harm. They have been witnesses, victims and/or
perpetrators. Working together in a safe supportive environment, they share their
stories and develop the skills, confidence and passion to become part of
LOVE’s violence prevention teams in the community. Because LOVE youth combine their experiences with their newly gained
knowledge, they are uniquely effective in promoting awareness,
influencing attitudes and effecting positive social change in their
communities.Since LOVE began in 1993, LOVE youth leaders have reached hundreds of
thousands of children, youth and adults, reducing violence in schools,
homes and neighbourhoods.
The youth shared a lot about their stories and some of them were so emotional and deeply touching. Scholars also shared their stories and inspiration. Twinkle asked scholars to share their goals, motivation and aspirations even in coming to the Sauve program. The Scholars talked from the heart and the youth felt moved and touched by scholars stories. I would really recommend next cohort of scholars to partner with LOVE youth since this young people are not only courageous and resilient but also exceptional. They all have achieved so much in their own ways especially in personal growth and development.They have tremendous support from fellow youth, staff and the Montreal community.
Using LOVE’s educational programs in photography, video, broadcasting
and journalism combined with leadership training, youth analyze and
document the causes and impact of violence and propose reality-based
solutions. LOVE youth use the media tools they create and the life skills they
learn to promote non-violence youth-to-youth across cultural, political,
racial, religious, socio-economic and geographical boundaries.
The LOVE organization was founded by Twinkle (Sheila) Rudberg, whose
husband Daniel was killed by a fourteen-year-old gang member on the
streets of downtown Montreal. Daniel had gone to the aid of an elderly
woman who was being assaulted when the teen stabbed him to death. During
the youth’s trial Twinkle learned that the young perpetrator’s life had
consisted of being in gangs, taking drugs and spending hours watching
violent movies. She began to see him as a victim of violence as well. In 1993, as statistics on youth violence became alarming, Twinkle
founded LOVE, a community-based organization dedicated at first to
reducing the amount of violence in entertainment and the media and
raising awareness about its effect on the psyche of young people.
Twinkle then sought a way to reach marginalized youth to help them
reject violence.
In 1994, a McGill faculty committee introduced Twinkle to journalist
and teacher Brenda Zosky Proulx who was planning a journalism-based
violence prevention program for youth who had been challenged by
violence. Brenda was joined by Stan Chase of Dawson College’s Department
of Professional Photography and a teacher of at risk youth. Together
they created the LOVE photography and journalism program in 1995,
followed by LOVE’s leadership and school outreach programs in 1996 and
1997. Video, broadcasting and spoken word were later added.Today thousands of LOVE youth have become leaders in their
communities. Like Twinkle they set an example, showing how they can
overcome the tragedy of violence by investing themselves in their
communities.
LOVE has several Programs:
Media Arts Program (MAP)
Through the Media Arts Program (MAP) youth who have
been witnesses, victims and/or perpetrators of violence, learn how to
identify, analyze and document the issues surrounding the violence in
their lives and develop reality-based solutions to end violence. Ideas
are formulated and stories shared in “editorial meetings” at the
beginning of each media training session. As part of the process,
essential life skills such as critical thinking, verbal communication,
listening, social awareness, problem solving, take hold.
LOVE’s instructive programming in Media Arts includes photography,
journalism, videography and broadcasting. Through the lens of a camera,
the written word and their voices, these young people articulate the
impact of violence on their lives and explore positive alternatives.
Programs are led by media and social service professionals and are
offered at local community colleges or universities or in LOVE offices.
Leadership Training
Youth who have completed MAP, graduate into
Leadership Training, where they develop the skills, confidence and
passion to become part of LOVE’s community violence prevention team.
Based on the principles of youth engagement, the training includes
public speaking, producing and performing spoken word, producing videos
and public service announcements, and group facilitation. These young
leaders work in schools and the communities to promote and encourage
youth participation in violence prevention by establishing Violence
Prevention Committees. Their unique combination of knowledge, experience
and opportunity, enables them to be effective in promoting awareness,
influencing attitudes and effecting change. To complement this program,
each year, a 5-day intensive Leadership Training Camp is held in
Haliburton, Ontario. Youth Leaders from across the country come together
to further enhance their leadership skills which they can then take
back to their schools, neighbourhoods and communities.
School and Community Violence Prevention Outreach Program
LOVE Youth Leaders educate their peers, professionals, and concerned
community members about violence and violence-prevention. Youth Leaders
use their presentation and group facilitation skills, as well as
educational tools they have created, to examine the impact of violence
and share violence-prevention strategies. Each year Leaders educate more
than 40,000 youth and community members.
Violence Prevention Committees
Violence Prevention Committees are established in elementary, middle
and high schools in priority communities. Youth Leaders and LOVE Staff
co-facilitate the committees which meet regularly throughout the school
year, to create projects that communicate a message of non-violence to
the entire student body. The projects might include photojournalism
exhibits, school newsletters, zines, comic strips or public service
announcements about violence and its prevention. The goal of the
committees is to facilitate students’ ownership of the violence
prevention initiative in their schools and neighbourhoods.
LOVE Youth have continued to sparkle light of Hope and Resilience in communities all over the world. It was an honor hosting them at Sauve House and I hope the partnership and collaboration will last and continue with future scholars. I bet there is so much to learn from this youth.
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